A Lifetime of Lessons: Key Takeaways from Hon. Titus Mbathi at SBS Staff Connect

At a recent Strathmore Business School (SBS) Staff Connect, staff gathered for a fireside chat with 97-year-old pioneer, former Cabinet Minister, and veteran civil servant, Honourable Titus Mbathi. Moderated by Dr. Martin Mbaya, the session offered a practical look at leadership, decision-making, and personal character.

At SBS, Wisdom is a core value defined not just by degrees or academic knowledge, but by practical good judgment, moral clarity, and living a life that serves others. Hon. Mbathi’s story provided a clear blueprint for what this looks like in practice.

To keep these insights actionable, his advice breaks down into four clear dimensions.

Managing Yourself (Personal Grit & Mindset)

Effective leadership begins with self-mastery, particularly when navigating uncertainty or adversity. Grit is forged through difficult experiences, as illustrated when Hon. Mbathi recalled a high school strike at Mang’u where the principal halved food rations for a week, a hardship that instilled lifelong discipline and resilience. 

Furthermore, maintaining an active, forward-looking mindset demonstrates that ageing begins in one’s thoughts; even at 97, Hon. Mbathi continues to work on new business projects to remain engaged and productive. 

Ultimately, true leadership relies less on holding formal titles and more on managing oneself through plot twists, staying grounded during success, and recovering gracefully when plans fall through.

Doing What’s Right (Moral Courage & Integrity)

Wisdom demands unwavering adherence to ethical principles, even when doing so incurs personal or professional costs. Standing up for these principles was evident when, as Minister for Labour, Hon. Mbathi respectfully challenged President Daniel arap Moi over the abrupt deregistration of civil service unions without due process—a decision that cost him his political seat, yet preserved his integrity. 

Setting the ethical standard from the top yields widespread cultural transformation, as seen during his decade as Chairman of KenGen alongside MD Eddy Njoroge, where enforcing a strict zero-tolerance policy eliminated corruption across the organisation. On a broader scale, fulfilling civic responsibility requires voters to actively select leaders who demonstrate genuine character, fairness, and honesty.

Serving Others (Purpose & Public Impact)

A meaningful life extends beyond individual ambition, prioritising contributions that strengthen the wider community. Proactive accountability emerged early in Hon. Mbathi’s career when, upon being appointed Director of Personnel Management shortly after independence, he rejected a passive five-year shadowing period under a European predecessor and instead asked President Jomo Kenyatta for immediate full responsibility. 

This commitment to nation-building continued as he collaborated with Tom Mboya and Mwai Kibaki to draft Sessional Paper No. 10 of 1964, which established foundational economic policies on public-private partnerships. Ultimately, lifting others up through quiet contributions such as mentoring young professionals, supporting students, and giving back without seeking public recognition, creates lasting societal impact.

Building for the Future (Pioneering & Family Foundations)

Sustained success requires cultivating long-term ventures while maintaining a strong, grounded personal life. Preserving a pioneering spirit enables continuous value creation, whether transitioning from public service to private real estate with Pioneer Development Company or launching new ventures in later years. At the same time, anchoring success in family ensures that professional achievements are matched by home life, as strong families are sustained through mutual respect, genuine care, and consistent acts of kindness.

Moving Forward

Hon. Titus Mbathi’s reflections remind the SBS community that while titles and positions eventually fade, character, impact, and how we treat people endure. As we carry out our work, whether teaching, managing data, supporting operations, or leading projects, living out Wisdom means acting with integrity, serving others selflessly, and keeping our foundations strong.

About Transform Africa Network

This engagement was mobilised through the Réseau Transformer l'Afrique (TAN), an initiative launched by Strathmore Business School in November 2025 to address concerns over the continent’s slow, insufficiently societal-focused transformation. Dedicated to shifting the African mindset and encouraging citizens to drive meaningful change in their spheres of influence, TAN has spurred numerous impactful alumni-led stories.